If I was a master brick layer, and you asked me what I practiced, I would say I build homes for people to live in, garages to protect cars and silos to store grain. You can already guess I do that by laying brick, but I do not work alone. Are you interested in learning how to lay such brick? Or are you more interested in what can be accomplished with such skill? Surely, there's not much reward in laying brick for yourself, though in the beginning you may have that need.

I practice simple things, with simple goals until I am truly satisfied. Then I set new goals soon thereafter and refocus on achieving those in a steady pace.One could say, that the more you practice something, the more you are capable of practicing everything else.

I spent too much of my own time chasing this rational rabbit around regarding magic for years. Ultimately I became more satisfied through real practice. There is a whole new world open to you, if you decide take that first step, then the next. Otherwise, it would be more worthwhile if you exhausted your time by selflessly helping others (and yourself) in the natural world.

Someone has already cleared a path for you. You can see the first steps of a very long journey upward.

This step isn't absolutely mandatory. Also take into consideration when the book was written, you could more easily get a modern bath product that you use in the shower that exfoliates the skin and wash the body with that. There are many such products out there made for women that work equally well on a man's skin, and they are specifically designed for keeping pores clean. The key component to all of this is that you keep your skin clean and healthy as it is your largest excretory organ, you do not have to do it with a brush though. Like they say, cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Thank you for bringing up the importance of maintaining your bodily temple, just as keeping your hands clean is.

The author really never intended to supplant bodily cleaning with the act of dry brushing, rinsing/wiping, rough drying with a towel (or the other way around). They are different.

Personal: I use a sponge/washcloth in the shower/bath at odd times of the day. However, if I'm reasonably clean enough (usually in the morning) I perform the three(3) mini acts aforementioned outside of shower/bath time.

Tip: A Soft boar bristled brush is the best (and more expensive).

Please practice and test on your own. You should only trust your personal experience on this topic.

The obvious results will be your increase in your ability to breathe in vital energy, in greater quantities and in a much more effective manner, in through your pores. This will lead to you being able to manifest the wishes and desires, that you impregnate the vital energy in, as you draw it into your pores, from the unlimited pool around you

He says that in the book. I was asking about the obvious results you would see in the first step.

Outside of what you will experience in Step II and beyond, and based on my direct experience - it has health benefits in that you will feel and breathe better. These are the most obvious results. Of course, you'll need to practice over a span of a couple of weeks to make it your own. I didn't spell out what to expect as far as the results are concerned with the hope you would discover those on your own.

The teacher seriously hints at the importance of physical asceticism. Do not place a higher importance on your spiritual practices over the body in the beginning. An aspirant must train the body, mind and soul equally. It is the number one motivating reason why I initiated this lecture.

This is one step that I havn't done. Mostly because of having to find a proper brush. I have no doubt that doing it, would make ahuge difference in progressing in IIH.

One thing I've learned is that skipping any step or procedure in this system can cost you big time. I've found this out the hard way

Hard lessons are simply the best.

If you do skip ahead, do it within the confines an individual step. Otherwise as you progress, the danger increases accordingly that you could damage a vital element of your nervous system, heart, brain, etc.

Conscious lung breathing and conscious pore breathing are two different exercises.This exercise forms the foundation for the latter.

After a few days, your skin may become sensitive. Be gentle. The goal is not to irritate the skin, but remove dead skin and cause the pores to open. This is the first mini act.It is something you must practice to get right.

After about a week, your physical vitality will increase noticeably, even before you do the exercise for that day.

By itself it is very encouraging, worthwhile and kinda fun. When coupled with the other exercises the benefit is magnified.

Establishing a Daily practice (of at least one exercise) is critically important.

In lieu of a physical teacher, you'll need to take that first baby step. Why not make it this one?

Practice, yes practice this simple exercise daily until you see obvious results within a week or two. With that success, move to another initial exercise within Step I of your choice while continuing this one each and every day. This has value for you and is a corner of your foundation.